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The second external power line has been restored at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
The Russian operators of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine have confirmed that a second external powerline has been restored. The plant, Europe's biggest with six reactors, was taken by Russian troops during the first few weeks of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia and Ukraine accuse each of other's military actions which compromise nuclear safety. The plant does not produce electricity at the moment, but it needs external power in order to cool down the nuclear fuels and prevent the possibility of a meltdown. In a statement cited by Russian news agencies the station's Russian operators said that on Saturday, the second line, known as Ferosplavna-1, was reconnected. The completed work "significantly increased the stability of the power system at the station". Since May 7, the line was down. On October 23, the first Dniprovska Line was restored. The plant was without external power for 30 days with both lines not in operation. It relied on diesel generators. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, was able to arrange a local ceasefire after fighting nearby prevented emergency crews carrying out repair works. The latest ceasefire came into effect on Friday. Chizu Nomiyama (Reporting and editing)
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Sponsored: Energy and Finance Chiefs Call for Sound Policy, Stable Frameworks at ADIPEC
Global finance leaders discuss the new era of energy investment defined by pragmatism, diversification and strategic capital allocation Industry leaders urge fundamentals-based planning amid global volatility, with stable, sound and clear policy frameworks identified as key investment landscape criteria Liquefied natural gas, methane and carbon reduction innovations and emerging markets identified as key investment frontiers Organisations whose speakers shared finance insights at ADIPEC 2025 included Moeve, The World Bank Group, Siemens Energy, NNPC, and PETRONASAbu Dhabi, 05 November 2025: Day 3 of ADIPEC 2025 concluded on 5 November with a resounding call to action for global financiers, policymakers, and energy leaders to accelerate investment in energy and infrastructure. Against the backdrop of high-level dialogue, the event spotlighted the urgent need for scalable capital deployment to meet rising energy demand. With over US$3.3 trillion in global energy investment projected this year, ADIPEC reinforced its role as a catalyst for unlocking strategic partnerships and financial innovation across the energy value chain.Taking place from 3-6 November, ADIPEC 2025 is convening financiers, policymakers and industry leaders to unlock the capital, tools and frameworks needed to transform global energy systems at speed and scale.With energy security and affordability shaping investment decisions, and challenges persisting in emerging economies such as high borrowing costs, investment risks, limited creditworthy off-takers, and regulatory uncertainty, ADIPEC 2025’s Finance & Investment programme has been showcasing how redirected capital flows, evolving portfolios, and inclusive frameworks are strengthening resilience, competitiveness, and long-term decarbonisation.Financing based on sound fundamentals, not short-term market shiftsIn the session titled ‘Commanding the next decade: how leaders are positioning for global volatility and opportunity’, experts discussed long-term financial planning in a dynamic energy landscape, recommending fundamental-based decisions over reactive policy.In the session, Maarten Wetselaar, CEO, Moeve, said:"You always have to invest based on fundamentals rather than on the latest policy change, whether it’s in Europe or the US or wherever in the world, because it takes so long to build energy investments that it’d be a bit risky to respond to the latest coming out of wherever in the world.”Advancing global goals with decarbonisation investmentWhile the global energy industry looks to bring more energy streams online, sector experts advised a continued focus on decarbonising our existing energy system, to ensure long-term energy sustainability. A key part of that is reducing carbon and methane emissions, for which greater investment in technology innovation is required.During a session titled ‘Methane emissions reduction: a decarbonisation priority’, Zubin Bamji, Manager Energy and Extractives Global Department, The World Bank Group, spoke about the critical role of financing in addressing methane emissions reduction.“Finance is one of the key missing elements in this ecosystem of methane and flaring decarbonisation, and the World Bank would like to play a role in that gap. The idea was to provide catalytic funding that is needed in many developing countries or emerging economies for them to recognise that there is actually an opportunity here.”His view was supported by Khalid Bin Hadi, Managing Director, UAE, Siemens Energy, who linked the ability to advance decarbonisation to investment in innovation, saying: “For me, innovation is about solving problems. We need to apply innovation, we need to scale innovations, and that will require three elements: investments, industry partnerships, and true partnership.”Myriad opportunities for energy and infrastructure investment in emerging marketsSeveral rapidly developing emerging market economies are looking to connect capital to resource extraction projects, which is often dependent on cross-sector and cross-border collaboration.In the session titled ‘Strengthening Nigeria and NNPC’s position in global energy markets’, Bayo Bashir Ojulari, Group CEO of NNPC, discussed how Nigeria’s booming energy sector is approaching development. He said: “With production comes the requirement for investment, so we’re focusing on collaboration that starts with the baseline, making our existing partnerships as effective and sharp as possible, while also discussing new partners, new investments, and new opportunities.”The importance of sound, stable, and clear policy in attracting and unlocking finance and investment was another message reiterated by speakers at ADIPEC 2025.Charlotte Wolff-Bye, Chief Sustainability Officer, PETRONAS,summarised the message succintly when she said: “Business works well when we have a line of sight of clear regulation, clear policy, line of sight, all of this. We like that. Most of us operate in many countries. We enjoy that. Investment will flow. The inability to regulate some of these policy commitments, perhaps lack of enforcement, doesn’t help, actually.”ADIPEC 2025 continues through 6 November, with upcoming sessions addressing hydrogen, LNG, digitalisation, and the future of energy systems. Across four days, the conference is turning dialogue into delivery, catalysing partnerships and showcasing solutions that drive inclusive, sustainable progress at speed and scale. Photo Courtesy ADIPEC
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Aker Solutions Extends Services Deal on Hebron Platform off Canada
Aker Solutions has secured a five-year enabling contract extension with ExxonMobil Canada Properties, the operator of the Hebron platform offshore Newfoundland and Labrador.The brownfield maintenance and modification (M&M) contract, valued between $147 million and $245 million, extends the company’s existing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) enabling agreement first awarded in 2015.Aker Solutions has supported ExxonMobil on the Hebron platform for nearly a decade, delivering platform-wide upgrades and modifications. The company has also provided multidisciplinary services to Canada’s East Coast oil and gas sector for more than 30 years.Executive Vice President Paal Eikeseth, who heads Aker Solutions’ Life Cycle business, said the company will use its integrated project execution model to deliver efficient and cost-effective solutions.“We will leverage our multi-discipline Project Execution Model to deliver fit-for-purpose solutions with speed and precision, ensuring successful outcomes while reducing costs,” Eikeseth said.The work will be led from Aker Solutions’ St. John’s office, where staffing has grown from 100 to 350 employees in recent years.
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Cleaning woman found dead after wrong house in Indiana
Police in Indiana said that detectives had completed the initial investigation of the murder of a cleaning lady who was mistakenly sent to the wrong address. She was fatally shot by a resident, who was afraid an intruder might be outside. The Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department has submitted its findings to the Boone County Prosecutor's Office to be reviewed to determine if criminal charges will also be filed in connection with the Wednesday's murder. Kent Eastwood told local media that the "castle doctrine", part of Indiana's stand your ground law, complicates the case. The "stand your grounds" law gives individuals the right to defend themselves from a home invasion, sometimes using deadly force. Police identified the slain woman as Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez. She was 32 years old, from Indianapolis, and according to reports, was a Guatemalan immigrant who was a mother of four. Rios Perez, her husband and two other residents arrived at the house shortly before dawn. One of them fired a gun into the woman's head. The residents had called emergency-911 by then to report that a possible break-in was in progress. Police said that officers found Rios Perez dead and determined she and her husband had been "members of the cleaning crew who mistakenly arrived to the wrong address." Police said there was no evidence that a break-in attempt had taken place. The husband identified by the Indianapolis Star, Mauricio Vélazquez, said to an online news website that he and wife believed they were at a correct address and double checked the location before approaching the home. Velazquez, according to The Star, said that the couple was standing on the porch of the house, located in Indianapolis suburb Whitestown when the shooting took place. The police have not identified who they believe is responsible for the shooting, or the identity of the resident. They say the investigation is a "complex and delicate case" that's still evolving. This incident was reminiscent of recent cases where homeowners opened fire at individuals who were mistakenly misidentified as intruders when they arrived at the wrong address. The county prosecutor who is reviewing the Whitestown matter will have to consider an Indiana state statute that allows people to use deadly force in their home to protect themselves when they believe that they are being threatened by an intruder. Steve Gorman, Los Angeles; Himani Sarkar, editing.
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Nasdaq's worst week since April due to AI rally worries, US yields slide
Investors worried about the sustainability and growth of artificial intelligence stocks, while U.S. Treasury rates dipped. The Nasdaq has fallen about 3% this week. Chip stocks and other tech-related shares have also been among the worst performers. As optimism about AI drove markets to new highs, the Nasdaq gained more than half since April when U.S. president Donald Trump announced tariffs. The Financial Times, however, reported earlier this week that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned the U.S. to be prepared for China's victory in the AI race. We're still seeing the AI selloff after our comments... about China winning in the AI race. "You're seeing multiples being re-calibrated in the space. That's where most of the weakness lies," said Michael O'Rourke. Chief market strategist at JonesTrading, Stamford in Connecticut. You could also see it as profit taking. O'Rourke stated that this has been a great year for stocks, particularly in the group. Bitcoin was also down for the last week but was up 2.9% on the day, at $103,197.07. The S&P 500, Dow, and NASDAQ all ended the day higher after reports that progress was being made in the congressional impasse, which is the cause of the longest government shutdown in U.S. History. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 74.80, or 0.16 percent, to 46,987.10. The S&P 500 gained 8.49, or 0.13 percent, to 6,728.81. And the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 49.45, or 0.22 percent, to 23,004.54. The MSCI index of global stocks fell by 0.68 points or 0.07% to 913.22. The pan-European STOXX 600 fell by 0.55%. The trade data from China was weaker than expected, demonstrating the impact of Trump's tariffs. Data showed that China's exports fell by 1.1% in October. This was the lowest performance since February. The data chills Asian markets, reminding them of China's dependence on American consumers. U.S. Treasury Yields edged down after new surveys showed deteriorating consumer confidence, partially due to the U.S. Government Shutdown, and investors weighed concerns about debt supply. University of Michigan preliminary consumer sentiment index showed that sentiment dropped to 50.3, its lowest level since 2022. This was due to concerns about the impact of the shutdown on the economy. The drop was primarily due to a dramatic deterioration of respondents' perceptions of the current situation, which fell to its lowest level ever. The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10 year notes dropped 0.2 basis points to 4,091% from 4,093% at late Thursday. The U.S. Dollar fell against the major currencies. Since last week, when Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell admitted the risks of further easing measures, it had mostly firmed. The shutdown prevented the release key economic data. Data signals from surveys indicate a resilience which could support the argument for not cutting interest rates at the Federal Reserve meeting in December. The dollar index fell 0.11% on the day to 99.57. The euro rose 0.14% to $1.1563. The dollar gained 0.25% against the Japanese yen to reach 153.45. Prices recovered after a dip in the middle of the day on hopes that Hungary could use Russian crude oil. Trump also met Hungary's Premier Viktor Orban, at The White House. U.S. crude oil rose by 32 cents, settling at $59.75 per barrel. Brent gained 25 cents, settling at $63.63 per barrel. Gold prices were also higher.
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Argentina's YPF suffers a Q3 loss on taxes
The Argentinean state-controlled energy firm YPF reported a net loss in the third quarter of $198.7 million. This loss was attributed to a deferred taxes charge. The company's adjusted EBITDA, a key measure for industry profitability, was $1.36 billion from July to September. This is down 1% compared to a year ago and in line with the expectations of analysts surveyed by LSEG. YPF reported revenues of $4.64 billion. This is down 12% compared to the same quarter in last year. It was also a little below analyst's $4.76 billion forecast. The company reported that its total hydrocarbon output was down by 6%, to 523.100 barrels of oil per day. Shale oil production has risen by 35% in the last year to an average of 170,000 barrels a day. This represents 70% of total oil production. YPF released a statement separately on Friday stating that shale production had reached a new record of 190,000 bpd in October. YPF’s performance is a key indicator for Argentina’s economy. The country relies on Vaca Muerta to achieve its goal of becoming a net exporter of energy. The massive formation in western Argentina is responsible for 64% the oil production of Argentina, even though it only has 8% under development. This formation is important for the President Javier Milei government. It needs to boost Argentina's dollar reserves to build confidence and increase its energy exports. Refinery utilization in YPF’s downstream business (which includes marketing and refining) was 97%. Domestic fuel volume increased by 3% compared to the second quarter as YPF gained share. (Reporting and editing by Eliana Raszewski, Brendan O'Boyle and Leslie Adler).
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Nasdaq's worst week since April due to AI rally worries, US yields slide
Investors worried about the sustainability and growth of artificial intelligence stocks, while U.S. Treasury rates dipped. The Nasdaq has fallen about 3% this week. Chip stocks and other tech-related shares have also been among the worst performers. As optimism about artificial intelligence drove markets to new highs, the Nasdaq gained more than half since April when U.S. president Donald Trump announced tariffs. The Financial Times, however, reported earlier this week that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had warned the U.S. about China's potential to beat it in the AI race. We're still seeing the AI selloff after our comments... about China winning in the AI race. "You're seeing multiples being re-calibrated in the space. That's where most of the weakness lies," said Michael O'Rourke. Chief market strategist at JonesTrading, Stamford in Connecticut. You could also see it as profit taking. O'Rourke stated that this has been a great year for stocks, particularly in the group. Bitcoin was also down this week but last day it rose by 2.09% to $103,197.07. The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all turned positive late in Friday's session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 74.80, or 0.16 percent, to 46,987.10. The S&P 500 gained 8.49, or 0.13 percent, to 6,728.81. And the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 49.45, or 0.22 percent, to 23,004.54. The MSCI index of global stocks fell by 0.58 points or 0.06% to 914.42. The pan-European STOXX 600 fell by 0.55%. The Shanghai Composite Index and China's blue chip CSI300 Index had both closed Friday with a 0.3% decline. The China trade data was weaker than expected, demonstrating the impact of Trump's tariffs. Data showed that China's exports fell by 1.1% in October. This was the worst performance since the beginning of February. The data shook Asian markets, reminding them how dependent the manufacturing giant is on American consumers. U.S. Treasury rates fell after surveys showed deteriorating consumer confidence, in part due to the U.S. shutdown. Investors also weighed concerns about debt supply. University of Michigan preliminary consumer sentiment index showed that sentiment dropped to 50.3, its lowest level since June 20,22. This was due to concerns about the economic impacts of the government shut down. The drop was primarily due to a dramatic deterioration of respondents' opinions about current conditions. They fell to their lowest ever level. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. notes dropped 0.2 basis points to 4,091% from 4,093% at late Thursday. The U.S. Dollar is expected to finish the week with a roughly flat value. Since last week, when Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell admitted the risks of additional easing measures, the greenback has largely firmed. The U.S. shutdown of the government has prevented key economic data from being released. Data signals from surveys indicate a resilience which could support the argument for not cutting interest rates at the Federal Reserve meeting in December. The dollar index (which measures the greenback versus a basket including the yen, euro and pound sterling) fell by 0.11% on the day to 99.57. Meanwhile, the euro rose 0.14% to $1.1563, while the dollar index was down 0.11%. The dollar gained 0.25% against the Japanese yen to reach 153.45. Oil prices gained. U.S. crude oil rose 32 cents and settled at $59.75 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 25 cents and settled at $63.63. Gold prices were also higher. (Additional reporting in London by Lawrence White and Dhara Raasinghe, Editing by Louise Heavens and Deepa Babington; Edmund Klamann and Louise Heavens)
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European countries support $2.5 billion initiative for protecting Congo rainforest
The French presidency announced at a United Nations climate conference that European nations had backed a plan worth $2.5 billion to save the Congo rainforest. This conservation initiative could steal some of the thunder from Brazil's flagship initiative, which is the host country for COP30. The U.N. Climate talks are being held this year in the Brazilian Amazon to draw attention to the issue of emissions caused by rampant deforestation. The initiative "The Belem Call for the Forests of the Congo Basin", led by France and Gabon, and supported by Germany, Norway and Belgium, was reported on by Thursday, and confirmed later by France. Also, the World Bank, African Development Bank, and European Commission have signed up. The goal is to raise more than $2 billion in the next five-year period, as well as domestic funds from Central African nations, to protect the second largest rainforest on earth. Supporters also said that they would help African nations reduce the deforestation by using technology, training, and partnerships. They aim to end deforestation within the Congo Basin in 2030. The Congo, the Amazon - the world's biggest rainforest - and the Borneo-Mekong-Southeast Asia basin, the third-largest rainforest, all face threats from expanding farm frontiers, logging, mining, and other industries. The Congo Basin rainforest covers at least six central African countries, with the majority of it in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congo's protection has attracted attention, as it absorbs more greenhouse gases net than any other forest. However, the timing was not in sync with Brazil's agenda for COP30 which places a global fund on the forefront. The Brazilian President Luiz inacio Lula da So has hailed the Tropical Forests Forever Facility as the future of climate financing because it replaces grants by a more scalable model. A diplomat who is familiar with both initiatives said that "in theory, they are both very different." He noted that the TFFF offers annual payments without strings to rainforest nations. The source said that the two rainforest funds competing with each other may not be helpful. Norway pledged an additional $3 billion on Thursday to the TFFF, making it the largest contribution yet. France has said that it is willing to contribute up to 500 millions euros to the Brazilian initiative. Germany promised on Friday a "significant contribution". Reporting by Lisandra paraguassu from Belem, and Simon Jessop from Sao Paulo. Editing by Brad Haynes and Diane Craft.
Green hydrogen retreat threatens emissions targets
Around the globe, green hydrogen developers are cancelling their projects and reducing investments. This could lead to a longer-than-targeted reliance on fossil energy.
The sector's initial goals have been exposed as being unrealistic due to the challenges it faces.
Green hydrogen is prohibitively expensive for industries that are hard to electrify, like steelmaking and long distance transportation.
Jun Sasamura is the hydrogen manager for Westwood Global Energy. He said that the gap between European ambitions and actuality shows the magnitude of the industry's reset.
He said that only a fifth (or less) of all planned hydrogen projects in the European Union will be operational by the end decade. Westwood Global Energy data show that this translates to approximately 12 GW in production capacity compared to an EU target for 40 GW.
He added, "I don't think the EU 2030 target (hydrogen production), will be met in the current state."
Expectations Inflation
Many companies claim that the high costs of green hydrogen and the lack of demand have made many plans unprofitable.
Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade is the chief executive officer of Portuguese energy company EDP. He said: "Green hydrogen had been an inflated expectation which has now turned into a valley or disillusionment."
The demand is missing. In Spain and Portugal there are 400 million Euros ($464.2 Million) in subsidies for hydrogen, but we still need someone to purchase the hydrogen.
Ana Quelhas is the chief of EDP's Hydrogen and Co-Chair of the European Renewable Hydrogen Coalition. She said that although several projects are in advanced stages, they cannot be moved forward due to a lack buyers.
Iban Molina, a company executive from Spain, said that Iberdrola had put on hold plans to expand the capacity of a green hydrogen plant with an electrolyser capability of 20 MW, until it found buyers for more output.
In recent years, they are one of more than a dozen major companies who have cut back on spending or shelved certain projects in Europe, Asia and Australia.
Westwood Global Energy reports that companies had cancelled or delayed over a fifth (or more) of all European projects at the end of 2017.
Emma Woodward, at Aurora Energy Research said: "In the years 2020-2021, we had this vision of hydrogen being used in nearly every sector which hadn't yet been electrified.
"I believe we have realised that there are probably other, more commercially viable alternatives in many sectors." We may not need as much hydrogen initially thought.
Too Expensive
Many governments have supported the development of green hydrogen for many years. This is produced by electrolysis, which splits water using renewable electricity into hydrogen and oxygen.
Australia, Britain and Germany, as well as Japan, announced ambitious investment plans that they hoped would lower costs and create a green hydrogen industry that was profitable and would not need any support.
Minh Khoi Le is Rystad's director of hydrogen research.
Grey hydrogen is twice as costly as natural gas, as an example. This latter product is made from coal and natural gas, and is used in many industries including oil refining, ammonia production and methanol.
He added that costs could drop by 30-40% if the equipment prices fall and the supply chain is scaled up. Meanwhile, Woodward of Aurora and Sasamura of Westwood Global Energy said green hydrogen would not be competitive until then.
Wood Mackenzie, a consultancy, says that only 6 million metric tonnes per annum of low-carbon hydrogen is operational or being built in the world, including green and blue hydrogen, which are made from gas.
The consultancy estimates that 450 mtpa is required to achieve net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The EU has pledged to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, on the way to its 2050 goal.
The market is priced out of reach for buyers
The industry expected sectors like steel, oil refinement, cement, and transportation to be the first buyers. However, the demand that was expected has not materialised.
Dirostahl is a German die-forging company that makes parts for wind turbines and ships, as well as oil and gas drilling pipes. It is dependent on natural gas fired furnaces and is searching for an alternative.
Green hydrogen is too expensive. The fuel is not available for less than 150 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh), while natural gas costs between 30-35 euros/MWh.
"It just doesn't work." In practice, it's economic suicide. "We'd be totally uncompetitive", he said.
The high price of electrolysers for large-scale production is due to infrastructure bottlenecks, and the increased cost of energy resulting from new rules defining what constitutes "green hydrogen".
Some European countries have reduced their ambitions. Italy recently switched 600 million euros of post-pandemic funding from hydrogen to biomethane. In April, France reduced its 2030 target for hydrogen electrolysis by over 30% and Portugal cut its electrolysis ambitions by 45%.
Last year, the Dutch government made drastic cuts in the funds allocated for the development of green hydrogen and batteries. Instead, the climate fund was redirected to the construction of two nuclear power plants.
In Australia, several players have scaled back their projects or pulled out despite the government's support of more than A$8 Billion ($5.2 Billion).
Even projects that are moving forward face delays. Rystad analysts estimate that 99 percent of the A$100 billion projects announced in the next five-year period have not progressed beyond the concept stage or approval.
DIFFICULTIES IN INFRASTRUCTURE
Hydrogen is also difficult to store, as it requires tanks with high pressure and extremely low temperatures. It can also leak. This makes transporting hydrogen through the old gas pipelines, while waiting for new infrastructure, a risky proposition.
Spain hopes to build 2,600 km (1.615 miles) of hydrogen network, and connect it with another project. The trans-European link H2Med - from Iberian to Northwest Europe.
Arturo Gonzalo is the CEO of Spanish gas grid operator Enagas. He said that while the Spanish network will be operational by 2030, delays of up to two years may occur for other European infrastructure.
He said: "Infrastructure does not happen when the market is already booming; it's something that must be done for the market to burgeon." ($1 = 0.8617 euros) ($1 = 1.5340 Australian dollars)
(source: Reuters)